What is a DMAT?

A Disaster Medical Assistance Team (DMAT) is a group of professional medical personnel supported by a cadre of logistical and administrative staff designed to provide emergency medical care during a disaster or other event. In mass casualty incidents, responsibilities include triaging patients, providing austere medical care, and preparing patients for evacuation. In other situations, DMATs may provide primary health care or augment overloaded health care staffs.

DMATs are part of the National Disaster Medical System (NDMS) within the federal Department of Health and Human Services. DMATs typically deploy as 48-person mobile medical units, or smaller strike teams, to augment local health care personnel and facilities in times of disaster. DMATs are capable of standing up self-supporting temporary emergency medical care centers, providing supplemental medical staff for denuded hospitals following disasters and providing airhead support for the movement of casualties from a disaster area to available health care resources in unaffected areas of the nation.